US National News

NATIONAL NEWS (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) -- SnapFresh from Ningbo Winbay Technology Co., Ltd. unveiled its 2026 40V 17-inch Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower as part of the brand's latest outdoor power equipment lineup, offering homeowners a gas-free lawn maintenance solution with cutting performance comparable to a traditional 150cc gas mower. The mower is currently available on Amazon.

NATIONAL NEWS (ST. LOUIS, Mo.) -- Family United Home Health Care has launched a fully redesigned website to give Missouri families a clearer way to learn about Medicaid-covered health care services. Founded in 2013 by Kayundra Foster, who holds a master's degree in Gerontology from Lindenwood University, the agency serves families across St. Louis, St. Peters, and Kansas City.

NATIONAL NEWS (SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., and KARNATAKA, India) -- GeekyAnts, an AI-Powered Digital Product Engineering and Consulting Company, earned a nomination at the ET Now Business Conclave & Awards 2026 under the "Excellence in AI & Digital Transformation" category. The nomination recognizes the company's work in AI-led product engineering, enterprise modernization, cloud-native systems, and digital customer experience.

NATIONAL NEWS (SHENZHEN, China) -- LumeFlow AI, a pioneer in next-generation generative AI platforms, today announced a massive architecture upgrade aimed at solving the industry's biggest bottleneck: consistency and automation in the AI video production pipeline. By integrating GPT Image 2 into its AI storyboard tool and launching autonomous AI Agent workflows, LumeFlow AI is transitioning from a standalone creative tool into an enterprise-grade AI production studio.

NATIONAL NEWS (SAN DIEGO, Calif.) -- Finding the right ELISA kit for a research project can take days, comparing suppliers, checking species compatibility, and waiting weeks for delivery. MyBioSource was founded to address these challenges. The San Diego-based company has put together a large, well-organized collection of ELISA kits that researchers can browse, compare, and order in one place.

NATIONAL NEWS (ANAHEIM, Calif.) -- ViewTech Borescopes, a leading provider of remote visual inspection (RVI) equipment, will exhibit at the 2026 Space Tech Expo USA, taking place June 2-4, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. During Space Tech Expo USA 2026, ViewTech Borescopes will showcase its lineup of high-performance video borescopes engineered for critical inspection applications across the aerospace, satellite, defense, and advanced manufacturing industries.

NATIONAL NEWS (SINGAPORE) -- NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific will be held from June 2-4, 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Bringing together retail industry leaders from across the region to collaborate on a Pan Asia Pacific stage, APAC's premier retail trade event will scale even greater heights as THE meeting point for the world's fastest growing markets. Visit Kiosk Association in #2113.

NATIONAL NEWS (DELRAY BEACH, Fla.) -- Spodak Dental Group is proud to announce its recognition as a 2026 Sun Sentinel Top Workplace, marking the 10th time the organization has received the prestigious honor. The organization was the only dental office to be recognized in the Small Business category.

NATIONAL NEWS (TEMECULA, Calif.) -- Publishers Newswire (PNW), an online news publisher covering books, music, indie film, and software launched in 2004, today announced its latest semi-annual "books to bookmark" list for Q1 of 2026, noting 11 new and exceptional "good reads" from small publishers based in North America. These recently published books are often overlooked due to not coming from major traditional N.Y. book publishers.

NATIONAL NEWS (SEATTLE, Wash.) -- Global Artists Collective and Flatstick Pub Redmond present "World Beat & Big Screen Soccer," a free community celebration on Friday, June 12, 2026, featuring live international music and big-screen viewing of the USA vs. Paraguay world soccer match. The event is produced by Global Artists Collective in association with Flatstick Pub Redmond.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- Industrial manufacturing activity remained strong in April 2026, led by sustained investment from the pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology, and healthcare sectors. Industrial SalesLeads research team identified 60 pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology projects, along with 39 healthcare-related projects, signaling continued demand for facility modernization, expansion, and operational upgrades across the U.S. and Canada.

NATIONAL NEWS (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) -- Anima Initiative, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting independent and underrepresented artists through interdisciplinary programming, presents "VENIA's Dear, Sincerely," - a one-day immersive cultural experience taking place Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the historic Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park.

NATIONAL NEWS (SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) -- HotDeals today announced the launch of a new code-level verification feature designed to help online shoppers better understand whether a promo code may work before they reach checkout. The new feature provides verification information at the individual code level for specific merchants.

NATIONAL NEWS (SEATTLE, Wash.) -- Global Artists Collective, F-Rock Inc., and Seattle's Artists at the Center program proudly present "Intersections of Soul, Jazz & Hip-Hop Across the Generations" on May 31, 2026. This rare performance unites generations of artists and music genres, featuring Grammy-nominated jazz artist Nathan Breedlove alongside his nephew, B-Boy Fidget (aka Marcus Sharpe), his brother Ted Sharpe, and the award-winning band Global Heat.

NATIONAL NEWS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) -- Le Portier Cognac and America's Gold Star Families today announced a Memorial Day initiative dedicated to honoring military service, sacrifice, and the lasting legacy of America's military families. Le Portier Cognac is a premium cognac brand co-founded by Shannon Sharpe.

NATIONAL NEWS (HAMMONTON, N.J.) -- Service First Information Solutions, LLC (Service 1st), a leading provider of credit reporting and verification solutions for the mortgage industry, announced today the addition of Joy Ziminskas as national sales director for the Southeast region to lead revenue growth and expand relationships with lenders, banks and financial institutions across Texas, Florida and surrounding markets.

NATIONAL NEWS (SAN DIEGO, Calif.) -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders, announced a strategic partnership with TheZebra.com, the easiest way to compare and buy insurance, that will give TMC's lender members a direct way to connect borrowers with home insurance options at the point of mortgage origination.

NATIONAL NEWS (LA JOLLA, Calif.) -- In a move to significantly reduce lead times for critical diagnostic research components, AAAbio (AAA Biotech, LLC) has announced a major restructuring of its international logistics framework. By empowering a curated network of regional partners, the company is ensuring that its comprehensive suite of Elisa Kits and protein reagents is more accessible to the global scientific community than ever before.

NATIONAL NEWS (BOULDER, Colo.) -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced that its Head of Marketing Courtney Dodd has been named a Women of Mortgage Tech award winner by Mortgage Women Magazine. The Women of Tech award recognizes individuals who are shaping the future of technology through innovation, leadership and community impact.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, today announced that Leslie Cheshier, its chief client officer, has been named a 2026 Women of Mortgage Tech award winner by Mortgage Women Magazine. The award recognizes individuals who are shaping the future of mortgage technology through innovation, leadership and meaningful industry impact.

NATIONAL NEWS (TROY, Mich.) -- Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced today that Audrey Clearwater, Senior Vice President of Sales Operations, has been named a Women of Mortgage Tech award winner by Mortgage Women Magazine. The award recognizes individuals who are shaping the future of mortgage technology through innovation, leadership and meaningful industry impact.

NATIONAL NEWS (ATLANTA, Ga.) -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homeownership programs, today announced that Kathy Gault, DPA Program Specialist, has been named a 2026 Women of Tech award winner by Mortgage Women Magazine, recognizing her impact on advancing mortgage technology and expanding access to affordable housing.

NATIONAL NEWS (HAMMONTON, N.J.) -- Service First Information Solutions, LLC (Service 1st), a leading provider of credit reporting and verification solutions for the mortgage industry, announced today that Lisa Binkley, Chief Operations Officer, has been named a Women of Mortgage Tech award winner by Mortgage Women Magazine for 2026. The award recognizes individuals shaping the future of mortgage technology through innovation, leadership and meaningful industry impact.

NATIONAL NEWS (BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) -- A Birmingham Scouting America Youth has accomplished an extremely rare and challenging feat that few have attained since the Scouting program began in 1910. Seventeen-year-old Garrett Jones, a member of Troop 4, in Vestavia Hills Alabama has achieved an extraordinary milestone by earning every merit badge in the Scouting America's premiere national leadership training program.

NATIONAL NEWS (GARDEN GROVE, Calif.) -- Informative Research (IR), a leading technology provider of data-driven credit and verification solutions for the lending industry, today announced that Corey Hampton, Vice President of Product Management, has been named among the 2026 Women of Tech by Mortgage Women Magazine (MWM). The award honors influential women who are driving innovation, advancing technology and shaping the future of the mortgage industry.

NATIONAL NEWS (DENVER, Colo.) -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), a leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced the release of its quarterly ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report covering Q4 2025 and the full calendar year (CY) 2025. The report analyzes post-closing quality control data derived from the ACES Quality Management & Control® software.

NATIONAL NEWS (AUSTIN, Texas) -- FirstClose, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that Andria Lightfoot, vice president of client success, has been named a 2026 Mortgage Women Magazine (MWM) Women of Tech Award winner, recognizing her leadership, innovation and impact advancing mortgage technology and supporting women in the industry.

NATIONAL NEWS (SALT LAKE CITY, Utah) -- What began in 1996 with twelve cancer survivors carrying handwritten flags to the summit of Utah's highest peak has grown into one of the state's most powerful annual traditions, presented by Survivor Wellness. This July, Survivors at the Summit celebrates its 30th year -- a milestone that speaks not just to the longevity of an event, but to three decades of resilience, community, and hope in the face of cancer.

NATIONAL NEWS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) -- As demand for summer home renovations and household upgrades continues to grow, online savings platform Valuecom today announced the launch of its new "Summer Home Shopping Deals Hub," designed to bring together the latest promo codes and discounts from home, furniture, building materials, and lifestyle brands in one centralized destination.

NATIONAL NEWS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) -- As inflation and rising living expenses continue to affect household budgets across the United States, American consumers are increasingly changing the way they shop online. PromoCodie, a U.S.-focused online coupon and savings platform, recently released new consumer trend insights showing how shoppers are becoming more strategic in their efforts to reduce e-commerce spending.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- Industrial SalesLeads announced today the April 2026 results. The month saw weaker activity across the food and beverage sector than the previous month. April 2026 saw 56 newly identified planned industrial capital projects ranging from poultry farm construction and brewery renovations to large-scale candy and ingredient manufacturing facilities.

NATIONAL NEWS (ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.) -- The Duke Energy Foundation announced it has awarded a $10,000 grant to The Jackson Copeland Foundation to help ensure families can afford essential living expenses following a blood cancer diagnosis.

NATIONAL NEWS (DENVER, Colo.) -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, today announced that it has been named one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Financial Technology. The awards program was created in 2017 and is a project of Arizent and Best Companies Group.

NATIONAL NEWS (SURFSIDE, Fla.) -- Charles W. Burkett, four-term Mayor of Surfside and lifelong Floridian, today announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida in the 2026 election as a No Party Affiliation candidate.

NATIONAL NEWS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) -- The Light Committee, a headshot photography studio known for creating some of the best headshots in Los Angeles, has opened a second studio in New York City just about 10 years after its first studio in LA. The New York city studio will provide similar services to the LA studio.

NATIONAL NEWS (HAMMONTON, N.J.) -- Service First Information Solutions, LLC (Service 1st), a leading provider of credit reporting and verification solutions for the mortgage industry, announced today the appointment of Lucas Jones as Senior Vice President of Operations. In this role, Jones will lead operational strategy and execution, with a focus on driving efficiency, enhancing customer experience, and supporting the company's next phase of growth.

NATIONAL NEWS (HONG KONG) -- PoKeep, a resource for Pokémon GO players, today announced a significant update to its IV Calculator, making it easier for trainers to interpret hidden stats, check combinations against their power-up dust tier, and see league-oriented ranking context for competitive play.

NATIONAL NEWS (SHENZHEN, Guangdong, China) -- Musicful AI Music Generator, an AI music generation platform, released its v3.0 model with a new voice customization feature that enables users to create and reuse personalized AI voice profiles across music compositions.

NATIONAL NEWS (ST. LOUIS, Mo.) -- OptiFunder today announced the launch of OptiExchange, a partner network designed to connect mortgage lenders with a curated ecosystem of technology providers, warehouse and capital partners, and service solutions across mortgage lending.

NATIONAL NEWS (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) -- Tonoccus McClain, prolific actor, writer and maker of all things theatrical is pouring his heart and soul into a deeply personal work in his first venture as a producer and writer at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. Known for being an open-ended festival with bold experimental performances, Tonoccus aims to expand on this tradition while adding the depth, poignancy, and social urgency of his new engaging work, "Versions of Her."

NATIONAL NEWS (HUNT VALLEY, Md. and PUNE, India) -- The Hercules Portfolio of Andromeda Software Inc. ("Andromeda"), an operating group of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), announced that it has acquired Peocit Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. ("Peocit"). Founded in 2002, Peocit is a provider of core banking and lending software solutions and services with multi-lingual functionality, serving more than 4,000 cooperative societies, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and other financial institutions across India.

NATIONAL NEWS (PALM DESERT, Calif.) -- At the LeadingAge California conference for aging services leaders, Cynthia Thurlow, CEO and President of 3rd3rd Marketing, and Shirley Turner, Director of Sales and Marketing at Hillcrest, share real-world marketing insights, results and actionable strategies in two sessions: "No Re-Branding Required to Win Residents" on May 20 and "Inclusive Storytelling: Strengthening Trust in Aging" on May 22, 2026.

NATIONAL NEWS (BEREA, Ky.) -- Fahe, a regional nonprofit network and Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to building thriving communities across Appalachia, today announced the launch of a digital advertising campaign introducing Housing Can't Wait(r) to donors, investors, philanthropic advisors, donor-advised fund professionals, and private wealth advisors seeking measurable, place-based impact.

NATIONAL NEWS (SEATTLE, Wash.) -- Friday Harbor, an AI pre-underwriting platform that helps loan officers assemble complete and compliant loan files in real time, is the first mortgage technology provider to receive an AI governance compliance attestation from mortgage banking and financial services law firm Brody Gapp LLP.

NATIONAL NEWS (JONESBORO, Ga.) -- Samba Recovery Atlanta today announced it will officially open its Jonesboro facility to patients on May 18, 2026, expanding access to medically supervised detox and structured residential addiction treatment in Clayton County. Local leaders and community members previously gathered on April 13, 2026, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to mark the completion of the facility.

NATIONAL NEWS (ADDISON, Texas) -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, announced strategic engagement of Christy Soukhamneut and Launch Point Advisory Group to support the expansion of its Whole Loan Trading division. The move is part of a broader initiative to grow Click n' Close's secondary market presence and offer whole loan trading opportunities across its government and specialty loan programs.

NATIONAL NEWS (SEATTLE, Wash.) -- NewFed Mortgage Corp., a full-service residential mortgage lender operating across more than 20 states, today announced the companywide rollout of Friday Harbor's AI pre-underwriting platform following a successful pilot program that demonstrated measurable gains in fulfillment productivity and underwriting throughput. Since implementing Friday Harbor, NewFed processors handle 36% more files per month while underwriters review 35% more loans.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- The UPSHOT League will launch its inaugural 2026 season with one of the most comprehensive media distribution strategies ever assembled for a startup women's sports league, combining the national Scripps Sports Network FAST channel, global streaming with YouTube and local over-the-air television distribution, including in all four Upshot League markets (Greensboro, Savannah, Charlotte and Jacksonville).

NATIONAL NEWS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) -- Gutscheine7 (Gutscheine7.de), a Germany-focused coupon platform, today highlighted how its service helps U.S. travelers save money while shopping in Germany by providing access to localized discounts, real-time promotions, and easy-to-navigate deal listings. As international travel continues to rebound, American tourists are increasingly looking for practical ways to manage spending in unfamiliar retail environments.

NATIONAL NEWS (SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) -- Neurotech Reports today announced that Thomas Stieglitz, Ph.D., a globally recognized expert in neural engineering and implantable neurotechnology, will keynote the Second Annual Neurotech Leaders Forum imec, taking place June 23-24, 2026, in Leuven, Belgium.

NATIONAL NEWS (NAPLES, Fla.) -- Amba, a leader in passive AI-powered care technology, will host a live webinar titled "From Staffing Crisis To Operational Advantage" on May 20, 2026, focused on how senior living operators can move beyond reactive care and how working with better visibility and earlier insight improves operational efficiency.

NATIONAL NEWS (SAN DIEGO, Calif.) -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders, announced the formation of the Mortgage AI Council, a standing committee under TMC's lender member board of directors. The council will give community banks, credit unions and independent mortgage bankers the governance frameworks, peer intelligence and collective voice needed to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly as the technology reshapes how lenders originate loans, assess risk and serve borrowers.

NATIONAL NEWS (ST. LOUIS, Mo.) -- OptiFunder®, the mortgage industry leader in warehouse management automation, announced a new integration with LendingPad, the award-winning, cloud-native loan origination system. The integration brings LendingPad and Genesis by OptiFunder together, creating a direct connection between loan origination and warehouse funding operations.

NATIONAL NEWS (ST. HELENA, Calif.) -- Karen MacNeil, wine authority, author of "The Wine Bible," and co-founder of COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine, will deliver the opening keynote at the 2026 Vine to Mind Symposium, a joint initiative of the University of California, Davis and Harvard University, taking place May 19-20 on the UC Davis campus.

NATIONAL NEWS (AUSTIN, Texas) -- Watkins Insurance Group, a leading independent insurance agency in Texas, has announced the addition of Patrick McFadden as a Private Client Insurance Advisor. McFadden brings 30 years of insurance experience and holds the LUTC and FSCP professional designations. His hire reflects the agency's continued commitment to serving the Austin metro market and specifically the growing segment of individuals and families whose lifestyles and assets require a more tailored approach to coverage strategy and personal service.

NATIONAL NEWS (BOCA RATON, Fla.) -- Web Scribble, a leading provider of career center technology for associations and mission-driven organizations, today announced the launch of Career Center technology for colleges and universities. The new offering helps institutions connect students earlier to employers, mentors, alumni, professional communities, career fairs, and long-term career pathways in one student-centered experience.

NATIONAL NEWS (WEST GROVE, Pa.) -- Simpson, a family of communities in Pennsylvania, is introducing a new spring and summer Joyous dining program to residents of Jenner’s Pond. Recognizing the joy many residents take in dining, whether socializing with neighbors or trying a new dish, the Joyous program from Sodexo brings together warm service, thoughtful experiences, and a daily variety of sustainable, vibrant meals. Jenner's Pond was instrumental in

NATIONAL NEWS (CHICAGO, Ill. and DENVER, Colo.) -- The Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA) and The Industry Group (TIG) will serve as a central technology hub for self-service, AI, payments, and accessibility at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, May 16-19. Restaurant operators and technology leaders are invited to visit Booth #5829 in the North Building at McCormick Place to see practical solutions that increase throughput, improve guest experience, and strengthen compliance across restaurant formats.

NATIONAL NEWS (ST. LOUIS, Mo.) -- OptiFunder, the mortgage industry pioneer in warehouse management automation, has partnered with Vesta, the AI-native loan origination system and agent platform, to connect loan origination and warehouse funding workflows. The integration links origination, funding, and sale to the capital markets, eliminating fragmented systems and manual handoffs that have historically slowed execution and increased risk.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- Industrial SalesLeads released its April 2026 planned capital project spending report and saw a surge in new industrial manufacturing capital projects, with our research team tracking 149 newly identified planned industrial projects ranging from plant expansions and new construction to renovations and equipment upgrades. Leading the month is Tesla's planned $20 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in TX.

NATIONAL NEWS (WELLAND, Ontario, Canada) -- Released by Tellwell Publishing, "What Remains After" by Pauline J. Grabia (ISBN: 978-1834384511) is a literary psychological suspense novel that examines the lasting impact of childhood trauma, the fragility of memory, and the difficult path toward forgiveness and survival.

NATIONAL NEWS (PLANO, Texas) -- Optimal Blue today released its April 2026 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found that mortgage lock activity pulled back after a strong first quarter. Total rate-lock volume declined 9% month over month (MoM) but remained 11% higher year over year (YoY). Purchase lock volume declined just under 2% from March but increased more than 9% from April 2025, continuing to lead production as refinance activity cooled.

NATIONAL NEWS (AUSTIN, Texas) -- FirstClose, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced SmartDocs, a new disclosure intelligence capability available through its XpressEquity point-of-sale platform. SmartDocs functions as the intelligence layer that determines when disclosure obligations begin and initiates the appropriate workflow based on lender-configured rules, helping standardize timing and delivery across programs and jurisdictions.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- The UPSHOT League today announced the official rosters for its four founding franchises - the Jacksonville WAVES, Savannah STEEL, Charlotte CROWN, and Greensboro GROOVE - featuring more than 40 athletes with WNBA, international, and elite NCAA experience.

NATIONAL NEWS (JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- The UPSHOT League on Tuesday announced its founding corporate partners supporting the launch of the Jacksonville Waves, marking a significant milestone in the buildout of the league's inaugural season and its mission to elevate women's professional basketball through community-driven investment and innovation.